Working Group 3: Users and Networks

There are many types of end-users of ocean and coastal observations, including data users such as scientists, ocean synthesis and forecast systems, and seasonal and long-term climate forecasts and projections, and information service users such as civil protection authorities, regulators, industry, policy makers and recreational users. Ocean and coastal observations also feed into Conventions such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the European Marine Strategy Framework Directive, as well as Assessments such as those of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Ocean Assessment, and monitoring of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Blue Planet Users and Networks Working Group

This working group evaluates various feedback and early-input mechanisms between data and information providers and various user communities. User groups expected to benefit from this component include the ocean observing community, scientists and the users of ocean observation information. The activities of this working group are expected to add value by:

Creating an improved understanding of the potential beneficiaries of ocean observations

Improving the mutually beneficial relationship between the ocean observing community, intermediary organisations and users of observation-derived products, information and knowledge

Improving the bidirectional feedback mechanisms between the ocean observation science community, decision- and policy-makers and society at large

Reducing the cost and effort to delivering usable information by shortening the science to policy pathway

Benefiting society by creating conditions that support better environmental decision-making

Facilitating more effective and frequent use of ocean observation data in monitoring and implementation of critical international frameworks and policy goals